Method for disposing of garbage.



A. H. WOOLLAGOTT & L. H. SAXTON.

METHOD FOR DISPOSING OF GARBAGE.

APPLICATION FILED IEBJO. 1913.

Patented June 9, 1914.

3SHEETS-SHBET 1.

A. H. WOOLLACOTT & L. H. SAXTON. METHOD FOR msvosnw OP GARBAGE. APPLICATION FILED- PEILIO, 1913.

Patented June 9, 1914.

3 SH ETS-SHELT 2.

Wikkqsas A. H. WOOLLAQOTT & L. H. SAX TON. METHOD FOR DISPOSING 0)? GARBAGE.

APPLICATION FILED IBB.10,1913. 1 ()99,33Q, Patented June 9,1914.

I 3 SHEETS-SHEL1 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT (ihlhlflfilil.

ALBERT I-I. WOOLLACOI'T AND LEE H. SAXI'ON, 0]? L03 ANGELEEL CALIFORNIA.

METHOD FOR DISPOSING OF GARBAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. *atented June 9, HEM-l.

Application filed February 10, 1918. Serial No. 747,576.

To all 10/1 on it may concern Be it known that we, ALBEK'L H. Wooi,i,.-\- Corr and Lei. H. SAXTON, both citizens of the United States, residing at Los Angeles. in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Method for Disposing of Garbage, of which the following is a specification.

In populous cities the problem of disposing of garbage, so as to relieve the inhabitants of risk from the diseases bred thereby, has always involved serious diliiculty owing chiefly to the crude and inetl'icient means used for destroying it. According to the usual mode of handling the problem the refuse was gathered from the city and thrown direct into large municipal stationary ii'ici'iierators, wherein it was slowly burned to ashes; but this method has always involved great expense which, as compared with the amount of reluse consumed, and the capacity of the incinerators, was extravagant. Furthermore, it was impossible to properly handle a surplus which n'iight be loaded onto the municipal plant at certiin seasons of the year.

1 This invention relates to a novel, practical and efiicient method and apparatus whereby the garbage of a city, or other gathering of people such as in great hotels, etc. may be cheaply quickly and easily destroyed, so as to quickly remove its unsanitary features from the community, and whereby proper provisions may be had for r suitably handling a surplus temporarily loaded onto the plant.

The distinctive feature of the method and the apparatus is that the garbage is first comminuted and ground to a comparatively tine consistency, and is thereafter incinerated in a rotary kiln. Either in the course of comminution or, if preferred, by separate mechanism, the water and other fluid n'iatter is removed from the comininuted garbage before same is passed into the inciuerator; and since this fluid constituent often amounts to 60 or 70 per cent. of the total garbage weight a markediuel economy is obviously effected by avoiding the need of evaporating said fluid in the incinerator. A further economy is clt'ccted by the mere fact that the garbage is comminutecl whereby a maximum surface is exposed to "the hot gases passing through the incinerator. By also providing supplementary comminuting means in combination with suitably equipped storage tanks the plant is admirably adapted to handle a surplus without creating auy unsanitary coll diiions whatsoever.

The accompanying drawings conventii'nially present various a 'ipliai'ices and connections that compose the novel combination of apparatus for carrying out the method em-- braced in the invention.

Figure l is a plan view shmving the apparatus conventionally, and certain parts have been broken away for purposes of. clearness. Fig. 2 is an elevation oi t-lu: apparatus shown conventionally and distributed on floors extending from the side of a hill. Certain parts have been broken away for purposes of clearuess. Fig. .3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus used for removing fluid matter from the eomniinuted garbage, and also for con veying the comminuted garbage. Fig. l is an enlarged transverse section through the rotary kiln on line or, Figs. 1 and 2, and shows the means within the rotary kiln for raising the comminuted garbage and dropping it through the hot gases. Fig. :i is an enlarged transverse section through the tube mill or supplementary eoinminuting means, said section being on line or", liig.--:. l. and 2.

The figures illustrate one mode, whereby various appliances and apparatus may be arranged into an ('iperal'ive plant for disposing of garbage in accordance with the method of this invention; and the plant is shown as built against a hillside '1. while the apparatus is distributed on four floors, one above the other, as at 2, 3, 4- and 5, Fig. 2, res 'iectively.

All the apparatus is indicated as being driven by electric motors, but it is understood to be so shown only for l.)lll] )(J$Ii-2 of simplicity and elearness, and that belhehain, or any other suitable driving means may be substil uted.

Preferably on the upper floor 2 is located the means for comminuting the garbage. and though any suitable crushing, grinding or comminuti'ng device whatsoever may be used for carrying out this first step in the method, this device is conventionally shown in the figures to comprise two heavy cooperating, comminutfing rolls 6 and 7 having longitudinally corrugated :l'acestt and b, and being driven through the gearing lo an motor 11, Fig. 1. The garbage as col Cir In accordance with the wrilblinou'n (20111 position of vegetable matter this couuninuted garbage usually contains a large pro-- portion of water and other fluids, and though not altogether necessary it is pref erable that such fluid matter be removed so as to minimize the cost of subsequent incineration. Any suitable fluid-removing means whatsoever may be used. for this purpose and may be built, either as a separate device or as a part of the comminuting' means; but the figures conventionally show a series of substantially smooth compressing rolls 13 cooperating with a cylindrical. foraminate'd trough ire of an ascending screw conveyor 15, F l and 3, whereby a suflicient proportion of the water, etc., may be removed from the comminuted garbage.

The garbage, after being suitably commin'uted, drops onto rolls 1.3 which are con nected. with driving machinery, (on'iitted from the figures) and rotate as indicated by the arrows on their faces, Fig. 2. These rolls substantially contact with each other and as the comminutedgarbage is pressed between them the water and other fluids are squeezed from the vegetablecells and said garbage, in addition to being further coniminuted is pressed into a comparatively dry pulp. From the lowermost rolls 13 the pulp and fluids drop through the opening 16, Fig. 3, in the upper portion of the ascending cylindrical foraminous trough let. This trough is preferably built of some strong metallic screening material suitably reinforced by longitudinal and peripheral stays 17 and 18 respectively; and within said trough operates the screw conveyor 15 which is driven by motor 19 through a ball and socket joint 20. At the outer end trough 14 communicates with a closed hopper 21,

i and the latter is provided below with a slide '23; and the said hopper or gate'valve 22 -cominunicating with chute is also provided at its end withanother slide or gate valve 524 communicating with a hopper 25.

her the expressed fluids and comparetivcly dry pressed pulp drop through open ing'j1I6 onto the foraminated trough lit the fluid matter immediatelybegins to drain oil through the fora'minations in the The pulp, however, remains behind and is screwed along the ascending trough by means of conveyor 15. It will be noticed that by conveying the coniminuted or pulped garbage upward along the ascending trough the c'onveyer must exercise a certain lifting or pressing effort, which constantly to tron gh further squeeze the fluids out from the comminuted garbage and to eject the fluid matter through the foraminations of the trough 14.. After the pulp reaches its greatest eleration in hopper 21 it will be practically tree of water and other fluids. Another trough or pan 26 is preferably provided heneath the t'orzuninatcd trough 14, so that the liuid issuing from the latter may be caught and run off to any suitable place, not shown in the figures. Y

Usually the gate 24: is closed while gate is open, so that the comminuted garbage will drop through tube 23 into the hopper 27. This hopper communicates with another tube 28 equipped with a suitablydriven conveyor 29; and the tube 28 passes through the chimney 30 and into the incineratingr means 31, which comprises a long rotary kiln suitably mounted and driven as hereinafter described. This kiln essentially comprises a strong metallic cylindrical tube 32, Figs. 2 brick 33, and said tube is circumferentially provided with heavy supporting flanges 34; adapted to rest and rotate easily on rollers 35. For the purpose of rotating said kiln it is also circiunferentially provided with a strong annular gear 36 which is driven by pinion 37 and motor 38. At the end, through which tube 28 and conveyor 29 enter, the kiln is provided with a closing plate 39 having a common swivel connection 40 with the line or smoke-stack 30 whereby the hot gases formed within the kiln may be drawn off. At the other end of the kiln are provided means 41 for forming and driving hot incinerating gases through the tubular kiln. This means comprises av suitablydined shell or cover -12 adapted to pass over the end of tubular drum 82 of the kiln, and though any suitable formv of fire or heat-producing means may be used the figures conventionally show jets 43 which are supplied, in any well-known manner, with compressed air and oil or gases through valved pipcs fll and 45 respectively. When a. proper admixture of compressed air and fuel issues from 413, the same may be ignited to create a powerful and hot flame 46, the hot gases of which drive through the rotating kiln and escape through stack 30. In order that the heat of said gases may be more thoroughly and eliiciently. applied, there is provided within said kiln means for raising the garand dropping it through the hot gases. The most common means available for this purpose comprises wings 47, Figs. 2 and l, carried internally on the rotating kiln and ext-ending from the end plate Stto an im aginary line 4.8, marking the outer limit of the primary heat Zone 49. It will be also noticed from Fig. Qthat the kiln mounting; is such that its axis is inclined to a hori- ..zontal line, and this feature, togrther with and 4, internally lined with firetar described is usually employed in carrythe operation of wings 47, will cause the commmuted garbage to travel downward along the kiln and will permit any ash residue to escape from same. through hopper in the cover 452.

The novel combination of apparatus thus log out the method oi this invention; and this apparatus comprises the means for com minuting the garbage, the means for incincrating the comminuted garbage, and means for conveying the garbage from said comminuting means to said incinerating means. In view of the finely divided or comminuted state of. the garbage in the rotary kiln, the same is readily and economically consumed forms a thick semi-fluid slurry of such plastic constituency as to flow through tube connections hereinafter described. From the supplementary connninuting means the slurry passes into tanks 53, where the agitators 5+ stir it constantly, so as to prevent it becoming set and solid in the tanks. By continuing the agitating operation the slurr may be stored in the tanks a long time until ready to be run into the kiln for incineration.

In the drawings, one form of means 52 for carrying out the supplementary commmution is conventionally shown in the form of a tube or pebble mill. This mill comprises a large metallic drum or tube 55 by the application of minimum heat; and as already stated the operation of ,wings 4-? keep the. garbage constantly exposed to the hot gases passing hrough the tubular kiln, so as to further reduce the expense of incineration. From this it will be seen that economy, and thoroughness of incineration. are among the most prominent features of this invention.

By supplying a large quantity of heat from nozzles 43 and by rotating the kiln slowly, so as to cause a slow passage of the comminuted garbage through same, the garbage and other matter may be completely consumed, and caused to pass oil as vapor through stack 30; or by reducing the heat supplied at nozzles -13 and by rotating the kiln rapidly, so as to hasten the passage of thegarbage through same the garbage may be only partially consumed and the residue permitted to pass out through hopper so. This residue may be used as a fertilizer and constitutes a valuable by-product of this method.

In the practical operation of the apparatus hereinbefore.described it happens from time to time, either that the operation of equipped with hollow cylimlrical supporting heads 56, by means of which said tube is rotatively mounted on the bearin means 57. For the purpose of rotating sa d tube mill an. annular gear 58 is externally mounted on tube and this gear is driven by the pinionand motor 59 and 60, respectively.

At the receiving end of the mill there is stationarily located a hopper 61 into which the garbage is conveyed by means to be hereinafter described; and from said hopper the garbage is fed by a suitably-driven screw conveyor (52, Fig. 2, through an aperture (13 in hollow head 56, Fig. 5, and from thence into the tube 55. At the discharge end of said mill the head 56 is formed with a similar aperture (53 from which the slurry drops into hopper 64. Within the tube mill there is a layer (55 of pebbles or other suitable hard bodies; and as the garbage drops into the rotating tube 55 these pebbles roll and slide around each other so as to comminute the garbage to an impalpable condition. 011 account of the residual moisture usually remaining in the garbage the impalpable refuse mixes with its own moisture to form the slurry previously referred to. In case the the kiln must cease temporarily in order to permit the repairing of'san'ie, or else that a surplus quantity of garbage is temporarily loaded onto the plant over and above its maximum incinerating capacity. In either or' these cases, it is necessary to temporarily store the whole; or the surplus portion of the garbage, and the apparatus whereby this temporary storing tan be sanitarily and practically accomplished will now be described. It comprises supplementary comminuting means 52, storage tanks 53, rotary agitators 54 in the tanks, and sultable in runs for controlling and comcying the garl'iage to the'supplementary connninuti'ng means, from said coulminuting means to said tanks, and from said tanks to the rotary kiln. in providing for a temporary storage il the garbage the following features are nivolred.

garbage, which passes into the mill, is too dry to form the semi-fluid slurry a proper amount of water inay be added by means of the water supply (56 entering the system above hopper (31. The garbage is regularly Fed into the mill and after the slurry. repre sented by layers 67, Figs. 2 and 5, rises to a level above the bottom of aperture (33 in the discharge head 56, Fig. 2, it will flow or discharge itself through the aperture into hopper (54.: From this hopper it flows through conveying tube (58 into the conveying main 5Q from whicl'i it is distributed by valves 70, and launches '71, into the storage tanks In the l'igin'es three tanks are sluuvin lmt any other suitable number may be mod, and the rotary agitators 5st in said tanks may all be driven by lay shaft 72 and motor 73. While the slurry is being stored,

The supplementary grinding means 52 prei'- erably operates in such manner that th gar bage passed into it is conmunuted until itl either topermit the repairs on the kiln or to permit the incineration oi: the bulk or the garbage, the stirring action of the agitators 7 the hopper.

may be passed between the primary com-' minuting rolls 6 and 7 and whereby a *variable proportion of said total may then be conveyed and shunted through the tube mill and storage tanks, while the rest passes directly through the kiln. As much of this means as conveys the garbage from the primary connninuting rolls to hopper 21 has already been described, and from this hopper the said means lead into hopper 25. through a gate 2e. The screw conveyer, indicated at 79, Fig. 1, and driven by motor 80 projects into hopper 25 to receive and,

propel the garbage coining tl'irough gate 24. The conveyor 79 propels this garbage transversel y through tuboSl into hopper 82 from whence the said garbage flows by gravity through tube 83 into the receiving hopper (31. From this hopper it is conveyed into the supplementary comminuting means 52 in a manner hereinbefore described.

with the foregoing arrangement the proportions of the garbage, which pass direct to the rotary kiln, or pass through the tube mill and storage tanks, may be varied by the independentbut simultaneous operation of gates 22 or 24, Fig. 3. If the rotary kiln is stopped for repairs gate is shut completely, while mte 24- is opened, and all the garbage will pass into the tube mill and storage tanks where it is kept until the repairs are finished. After the kiln is operated again the tank valves 7i are, of course, opened, and the slurry passed into the incil'ierator. It the rotary kiln, however, is operating under full capacity and a surplus quantity of garbage loaded onto the plant the gate 92 may be left wide open. so that the incinerator may take its full charge directly from The slide 2 also opened a sulticient amount to take the surplus through the tube mill "from whence it is distributed and stored in the tanks. After the surplus has been properly brought down gate .Zlmay be. closed, and at the earliest opportunity,-

when the plant runs slack, the surplus is run off from the storage tanks into the incinerator and this may be done, even while the incinerator receiving its reduced charge directly from the ooinminuting rolls 6 and 7.

There is no danger or breeding disease in view of the storage of the garbage in the tanks, because this may be properly sealed by the closure 84 through whieh branch. tubes 71 extend. With this provision added. to the system it is seen that after the bage is admitted into hopper 12 it is there- 'it after kept within closed machinery, until in cinerated in the rotary kiln, and this sanitary provision the risk of propagating and spreading disease germs is'eliminated.

It will, of course, be understood that this 1 invention contemplates such modifications as the addition of one or more incinerating kilns, which may operate separately or jointly, either to permit repairs on one or to handle the total surplus directly as reo ired. be It will also be understood that the distributing main 69 may ha e a valve. which is normally closed. A'portion S6 of this main, beyond this valve, is shown broken off in Fig. l, but it is contemplated that this portion shall connect with a large WGlllldSiE Sd sewer such as is usually found in cities, and that at times when the plant abnormaliy werloaded valve 85 may be opened to dis-- charge a large proportion of the slurry into so the sewer.

From the foregoing detailed description it is believed that the novel combination of apparatus .used for carrying out this invention will be clear. and that the economy, eonvenience and practicability of the method. will be apparent,

We claim 1. The method descrihedior disposing garbage which method comprises reducii '2; said garbage to a semi-fiuidic slurry, a git-stir said slurry, and subsequently drying and. burning said slurry while in an. agitated state.

The method for disposing of garhac. said method comprising the comminution said garbage so as to reduce it to a semi- Iluidic slurry, the stirring of said sh during. its storage and the subsequent. in eineration of said slurry 3. The method for disposing of garb said method comprising the coinininin of said garbage so as to reduce it to a. s tiuidic slurry, the storage oi said slnrr; substantially air-tight tanks, said. slurry ing subject to a stirring action during storage and the subsequent treatment oi P l slurry by continuously lifting and drop} i i it through an. ascending incinerating flame.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Les Angeles, California, c

this 3d day of F ebruary, 1913.

ALBERT H. iiQOLLdCOiTTfi LEE ll. SAXTGN. In presence ot-- James R. Towns-nun, Rmncn'r G. Sears. 

